Water Cooler Premieres at IDFA Amsterdam
Gutiérrez-executive-produced short documentary about federal immigration arrests makes its international debut at the festival.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Documentary
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Carla Gutiérrez signed on to executive produce the 12-minute short documentary Water Cooler, which makes its international debut at IDFA in Amsterdam. The observational film depicts federal agents waiting to arrest targets outside courtrooms at New York's Federal Plaza immigration court.
Why it matters
The film juxtaposes agents' casual conversations with scenes of arrests of immigrants who attended required court hearings, offering an unvarnished look at enforcement practices. Its festival run, including awards and a Cinema Eye Honors shortlisting, signals sustained attention to the subject.
The film has a runtime of 12 minutes and was shot between November 2025 and January 2026, with Best Documentary Short honors at Palm Springs ShortFest 2026 and the Golden Starfish Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival. It has also been shortlisted for the Cinema Eye Honors, and the extraction does not say how many submissions it competed against.
The players
Carla Gutiérrez
Oscar-shortlisted filmmaker who directed Frida, edited RBG, and executive produced Water Cooler.
Message Pictures
Production company whose team, including Sam Pollard, Geeta Gandbhir, and Alisa Payne, executive produced Water Cooler.
Blair Foster
Filmmaker who served as an executive producer on Water Cooler.
The details
Directed by Emma V.F., Water Cooler is executive produced by Sam Pollard, Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne through Message Pictures, and Blair Foster. Gutiérrez, an Oscar-shortlisted filmmaker who directed Frida and edited RBG, executive produced the short alongside the team at Message Pictures.
Timeline
Gutiérrez filmed Water Cooler from November 2025 through January 2026.
The film won Best Documentary Short at Palm Springs ShortFest in 2026.
Water Cooler screens at DOC NYC on November 13.
Water Cooler screens at City Lights Film Festival in London on November 16.
IDFA in Amsterdam opens next week.
Industry Dynamics
Water Cooler follows a festival circuit that moves from Palm Springs and the Hamptons to DOC NYC, City Lights in London, and IDFA in Amsterdam, a route typical for short documentaries seeking awards recognition. Its Cinema Eye Honors shortlisting places it among the documentary films competing for the discipline's most prominent annual honors.
Viewers can see Water Cooler at upcoming festival screenings, including DOC NYC on November 13 and City Lights Film Festival in London on November 16. The extraction does not indicate any streaming release or theatrical distribution plans.
The takeaway
Water Cooler shows how a 12-minute observational film can bring attention to enforcement practices that take place in ordinary courthouse settings. Readers interested in the film can track its festival screenings as it moves from Amsterdam to London and New York.
What happens next
Water Cooler screens at DOC NYC on November 13 and at City Lights Film Festival in London on November 16, with IDFA in Amsterdam opening next week.
Further reading
For more on the form, explore our coverage of the Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deadline.
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Do you think immigration enforcement is currently carried out fairly?
